Dane County, Wisconsin

Dane County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2010 census, the population was 488,075, making it the second-most populous county in Wisconsin. The 2019 estimate places the county's population at 546,695.[1] The county seat is Madison,[2] which is also the state capital.

Dane County
U.S. county
The Dane County Courthouse, 2004
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°04′N 89°25′W
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Founded1839
Named forNathan Dane
SeatMadison
Largest cityMadison
Area
 • Total1,238 sq mi (3,210 km2)
 • Land1,197 sq mi (3,100 km2)
 • Water41 sq mi (110 km2)  3.3%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total488,075
 • Estimate 
(2019)
546,695
 • Density390/sq mi (150/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.countyofdane.com

Dane County is the central county of the Madison, Wisconsin, Metropolitan Statistical Area, as well as the Madison-Janesville-Beloit Combined Statistical Area.

History

Dane County was formed in 1836 as a territorial county and organized in 1839.[3] It was named after Nathan Dane, a Massachusetts delegate to the Congress of the Confederation who helped carve Wisconsin out of the Northwest Territory.[4][5] Dane County was settled in the 1840s by settlers from New England.[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 1,238 square miles (3,210 km2), of which 1,197 square miles (3,100 km2) is land and 41 square miles (110 km2) (3.3%) is water.[7]

Soils of Dane County

Major highways

Airports

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1840314—
185016,6395,199.0%
186043,922164.0%
187053,09620.9%
188053,2330.3%
189059,57811.9%
190069,43516.5%
191077,43511.5%
192089,43215.5%
1930112,73726.1%
1940130,66015.9%
1950169,35729.6%
1960222,09531.1%
1970290,27230.7%
1980323,54511.5%
1990367,08513.5%
2000426,52616.2%
2010488,07314.4%
2019 (est.)546,695[8]12.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010–2019[1]

In 2017, there were 5,891 births, giving a general fertility rate of 51.7 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the eighth lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. Of these, 73 of the births occurred at home, the fifth highest number of home births for Wisconsin counties. 428 of the births were to mothers who held doctorate or professional degrees, more than any other Wisconsin county. These accounted for 7.3% of total births for the county, a higher percent than any other Wisconsin county and more than Ozaukee County which had 5.8% of births to mothers who held doctorate or professional degrees and ranked second.[13]

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 488,073 people, 203,750 households, and 116,752 families living in the county. The population density was 394 people per square mile (152/km2). There were 216,022 housing units at an average density of 174 per square mile (67/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 84.7% White, 5.2% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 4.7% Asian, 0.003% Pacific Islander, 2.5% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. 5.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[14] Of the 203,750 households 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% were non-families. 30.5% of households were one person and 7.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.95.

The age distribution was 21.7% under the age of 18, 12.8% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% 65 or older. The median age was 34.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Dane County.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 426,526 people, 173,484 households, and 100,794 families living in the county. The population density was 355 people per square mile (137/km2). There were 180,398 housing units at an average density of 150 per square mile (58/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.96% White, 4.00% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 3.45% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.43% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. 3.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 34.4% were of German, 11.5% Norwegian, 8.9% Irish and 6.0% English ancestry.[14] Of the 173,484 households 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.10% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.90% were non-families. 29.40% of households were one person and 7.00% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 22.60% under the age of 18, 14.30% from 18 to 24, 32.50% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 9.30% 65 or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.

Religion

In 2010, the largest religious groups in Dane County by number of adherents were Catholic at 106,036 adherents, ELCA Lutheran at 48,620 adherents, United Methodist at 9,753 adherents, non-denominational Christian at 7,448 adherents, Evangelical Free at 6,075 adherents, United Church of Christ at 5,035 adherents, Wisconsin Synod Lutheran at 4,214 adherents, Missouri Synod Lutheran at 3,921 adherents, American Baptist at 3,755 adherents, and PC-USA Presbyterian at 3,664 adherents.[15]

Language

As of 2020, the majority of people in Dane County speak American English. However, a small community is known to speak Kölsch or Colognian, a minority language from the German city of Cologne.

Government
Dane County Courthouse

Dane County is governed by a county executive and a county board of supervisors. The county executive is elected in a countywide vote. The county executive is Joe Parisi. The board of supervisors consists of 37 members, each elected from single member districts. As the policy-making body of the county government, the board of supervisors enacts county ordinances, levies taxes, and appropriates money for services.

Politics

Dane County has supported the Democratic nominee for president all but five times since 1912, and in every election since 1960. In that time, Republicans have only crossed the 40 percent mark four times. Historically, it has been the second-strongest Democratic bastion in the state; only the rural and heavily Native American Menominee County is more Democratic.

Dane County was one of the few counties in the United States to elect a member of the Green Party into county-level office; that official was Leland Pan.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 22.8% 78,794 75.4% 260,121 1.6% 5,813
2016 23.0% 71,275 71.4% 217,697 6.6% 20,382
2012 27.5% 83,644 71.0% 216,071 1.5% 4,466
2008 25.8% 73,065 72.8% 205,984 1.4% 3,890
2004 33.0% 90,369 66.0% 181,052 1.0% 2,828
2000 32.6% 75,790 61.2% 142,317 6.3% 14,632
1996 30.9% 59,487 56.9% 109,347 12.2% 23,468
1992 29.5% 61,957 54.6% 114,724 15.9% 33,441
1988 39.3% 69,143 59.9% 105,414 0.8% 1,377
1984 43.8% 74,823 55.5% 94,659 0.7% 1,203
1980 34.2% 57,545 50.8% 85,609 15.0% 25,251
1976 41.6% 63,466 54.0% 82,321 4.4% 6,765
1972 40.9% 56,020 58.1% 79,567 1.1% 1,439
1968 38.4% 39,917 57.6% 59,951 4.0% 4,193
1964 28.4% 27,124 71.4% 68,118 0.2% 184
1960 47.8% 43,245 52.0% 47,045 0.2% 212
1956 51.1% 38,955 48.4% 36,891 0.5% 367
1952 50.3% 38,724 49.4% 37,987 0.3% 216
1948 37.8% 22,934 58.5% 35,486 3.7% 2,244
1944 38.0% 23,021 61.1% 37,076 0.9% 554
1940 34.8% 21,845 64.2% 40,331 1.0% 611
1936 28.8% 15,233 67.8% 35,856 3.4% 1,819
1932 39.9% 19,083 56.1% 26,841 4.0% 1,899
1928 54.9% 23,680 44.3% 19,126 0.8% 364
1924 31.3% 12,280 5.3% 2,081 63.4% 24,847
1920 77.5% 22,842 16.6% 4,879 6.0% 1,767
1916 40.1% 6,931 57.1% 9,859 2.8% 483
1912 32.3% 5,244 55.5% 9,017 12.2% 1,989
1908 52.4% 9,441 43.4% 7,818 4.2% 750
1904 63.5% 11,041 32.7% 5,679 3.8% 666
1900 58.4% 9,396 38.1% 6,129 3.5% 562
1896 56.1% 9,080 40.3% 6,521 3.6% 585
1892 44.9% 6,445 47.6% 6,833 7.4% 1,068

County executives

Recreation

County parks
  • Babcock County Park
  • Badger Prairie County Park
  • Blooming Grove Drumlins
  • Blue Mounds Natural Resource Area
  • Brigham County Park
  • CamRock County Park
  • Cherokee Marsh
  • Donald County Park
  • Festge County Park
  • Fish Camp County Park
  • Fish Lake County Park
  • Goodland County Park
  • Halfway Prairie School
  • Indian Lake County Park
  • Jenni & Kyle Preserve
  • La Follette County Park
  • Lake Farm County Park
  • Lake View Hill Park
  • Lussier County Park
  • McCarthy County Park
  • Mendota County Park
  • Phil's Woods County Park
  • Prairie Moraine County Park
  • Riley-Deppe County Park
  • Salmo Pond County Park
  • Scheidegger Forest
  • Schumacher Farm
  • Stewart Lake County Park
  • Token Creek County Park
  • Viking County Park
  • Walking Iron County Park
  • Yahara Heights County Park

Communities
Political map of Dane County
Main article: Administrative divisions of Wisconsin

Cities
Cities are incorporated, generally have a mayor (or a administrator/manager), an elected council, and generally provide more services than smaller administrative divisions.

Villages
Villages are incorporated, are governed by a Village President and Board of Trustees, and provide residential services.

Towns
Towns may have the same name as a city or village associated with it, but it is a separate municipality. Towns are not incorporated, are governed by a town board, and only provide limited services to residents.

Unincorporated communities
Unincorporated communities are smaller communities that are governed by the town they are located in and often exist as nomenclature in vital records.

Neighborhoods
Neighborhoods exist mostly for nomenclature purposes; some may have administrative associations with powers that are defined in the property deed covenants of the neighborhood.

Native American community

See also

References
  1. "Quick Facts: Dane County, Wisconsin". Census Bureau. July 1, 2018.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". Wisconsin Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. Newberry Library. 2007. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  4. "Early Wisconsin". The Milwaukee Journal, September 26, 1896.
  5. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office. pp. 99.
  6. Starkweather, Charles Marcus, ed. (1898). The Red Book of the Sun Prairie Methodist Episcopal Church. C. M. Starkweather.
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  8. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  9. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census Bureau. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  11. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". Census Bureau. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  13. Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables
  14. "U.S. Census website". Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  15. thearda.com County Membership Report: Dane County (Wisconsin)
  16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

Further reading

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